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Etheostoma asprigene

(mud darter)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Danish:

Muddersmutte

Common Names in English:

mud darter

Description

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Physical Description

Species Etheostoma asprigene

Body: Mouth and snout: Mouth terminal, slightly oblique , small teeth on jaws . No barbels . Body patterning, color, and scales : Back olive or brown with 8-11 dark saddles or blotches. Sides with about 9-12 dark brown blotches or irregular vertical bars , sometimes fused along lateral line to give vague appearance of a diffuse lateral stripe ; 3 blotches or spot arranged vertically at base of tail. Belly cream or light olive. First dorsal with dark base, then orange horizontal band , then dark margin . Second dorsal and caudal mottled or with diffuse bands; other fins lightly pigmented . 45-50 ctenoid lateral scales. Body shape and size: Body fusiform to cylindrical and slightly elongated; round to oval in cross section . Typically 35-50 mm (1.5-2 in) TL ; maximum about 65 mm (2.5 in).

Fins: Tail, dorsal and other fins: Rounded or square tail. Dorsal fin with 2 lobes , slightly connected or separated, the first with 10-12 (usually 10) spines and the second with 10-14 (usually 13) rays. Pelvic fins thoracic . Adipose fin absent. Anal fin with 2 spines and 8-9 (usually 8) rays.

Distinguishing characteristics: The mud darter can be distinguished by its color pattern and by its lack of a modified scale between the pelvic fins. See also similar species information.

Breeding adults : Males with greenish-blue vertical bars with orange-red pigment in-between them (most pronounced on caudal peduncle). Head blue-gray. Belly orange-red. First dorsal with greenish-blue base, then orange-red band, then blue at margin; similar but less pronounced pattern on second dorsal and caudal fin. Anal fin with blue at base, pelvic and pectoral fins dusky .

Juveniles : Similar to adults.

Habitat

Inhabits sluggish riffles over rocks or debris in small to large rivers ; also lowland lakes .

Biome: Marine .

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Ammocrypta beani Jordan • Etheostoma asprigene • Etheostoma asprigene (Forbes, 1878) • Etheostoma beani (Jordan • Poecilichthys asprigenis • Poecilichthys asprigenis Forbes, 1878

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 08-Jun-1994

Similar Species

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Fish Name Dorsal Spine/Rays Anal Rays Lateral Scales Body Pigment Pattern Other Characteristics Similarity Index Comments Banded Darter 10-12/11-12 7-10 41-53, all pored 6-7 saddles on back; 8-13 blotches or vertical bars not extending onto back or belly except in males where bright green bars encircle body; blotch at base of tail Gill membranes broadly attached, usually 13-15 pectoral rays; breeding males with green throat and anal fin; cheek scaled Very similar Fantail Darter 7-8/13-14 7-8 41-53, 27-35 pored 9-13 faint saddles on back; 9-13 irregular vertical bars extending onto back but not belly, overlain with many thin horizontal stripes; no spots at base of tail Gill membranes broadly attached; 12-13 pectoral rays; breeding males with black throat and anal fin; cheek unscaled Moderately similar Iowa Darter 8-12/10-12 7-9 55-65, 18-28 pored About 8 saddles on back; dark mottling often with 9-12 blotches/vertical bars not extending onto back or belly; blotch at base of tail Gill membranes narrowly attached; 12-14 pectoral rays; breeding males with cream throat; greenish-blue anal fin; cheek scaled Moderately similar Least Darter 5-7/9/10 5-6 32-38, 0-7 pored 6-9 blotches on back; mottled, with 7-12 small irregular blotches; blotch at base of tail Gill membranes narrowly attached; usually 10 pectoral rays; breeding males with gray throat, brick-red anal fin; cheek scaled Moderately similar Mud Darter 10-12/10-14 8-9 45-50, 25-43 pored 8-11 saddles on back; 9-12 blotches or irregular vertical bars, often partly fused along lateral line, encircling c. peduncle; 3 vertical spots at tail base Gill membranes narrowly attached; usually 13-14 pectoral rays; breeding males with blue-gray throat, blue anal fin; cheek scaled N/A Rainbow Darter 8-13/10-15 6-8 37-49, 20-34 pored 3-11 saddles on back; 8-13 regular vertical bars extending onto back but not belly, encircling caudal peduncle; no spots at base of tail Gill membranes narrowly attaches; usually 13 pectoral rays; breeding males with blue-black throat, orange anal fin; cheek largely unscaled Very similar Orangethroat Darter 8-12/11-15 4-8 42-50, 10-38 pored 3-11 saddles on back; about 8 blotches or irregular dark vertical bars not extending onto back or belly, faint thin horizontal stripes on upper sides; blotch at base of tail Gill membranes narrowly attached, usually =12 pectoral rays; breeding males with orange throat, blue anal fin; cheek with a few scales Very similar Not known from WI, but occurs in Illinois very close to the border, so conceivable as a stray

Members of the genus Etheostoma

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 194 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

E. acuticeps (Sharphead Darter) · E. aquali (Coppercheek Darter) · E. artesiae (Redspot Darter) · E. asprigene (Mud Darter) · E. atripinne (Cumberland Snubnose Darter) · E. australe (Dardo De Conchos) · E. baileyi (Emerald Clingfish) · E. barbouri (Teardrop Butterflyfish) · E. barrenense (Splendid Darter) · E. basilare (Corrugated Darter) · E. bellator (Warrior Darter) · E. bellum (Orangefin Characin) · E. bison (Buffalo Darter) · E. blennioides (Greenside Darter) · E. blennioides blennioides (Greenside Darter) · E. blennioides gutselli (Tuckasegee Darter) · E. blennioides newmani (Greenside Darter) · E. blennioides pholidotum (Greenside Darter) · E. blennius (Blenny Darter) · E. blennius blennius (Blenny Darter) · E. boschungi (Slackwater Darter) · E. brevirostrum (Holiday Darter) · E. burri (Brook Darter) · E. caerulea (Rainbow Darter) · E. caeruleum (Rainbow Darter) · E. caeruleum caeruleum (Rainbow Darter) · E. camurum (Bluebreast Darter) · E. cervus (Chickasaw Darter) · E. chermocki (Vermilion Darter) · E. chienense (Relict Darter) · E. chlorobranchium (Greenfin Darter?names of Fishes 133) · E. chlorosoma (Bluntnose Darter) · E. chlorosomum (Bluntnose Darter) · E. chuckwachatte (Lipstick Darter) · E. cinerea (Ashy Darter) · E. cinereum (Ashy Darter) · E. collettei (Creole Darter) · E. collis (Carolina Darter) · E. colorosum (Coastal Darter) · E. coosae (Coosa Darter) · E. corona (Crown Darter) · E. cragini (Arkansas Darter) · E. crossopterum (Fringe-Lipped Worm Eel) · E. cymatotaenia (Bluestripe Darter) · E. davisoni (Choctawhatchee Darter) · E. denoncourti (Golden Darter) · E. denoncourtivan (Golden Darter) · E. derivativum (Stone Darter) · E. ditrema (Coldwater Darter) · E. douglasi (Tuskaloosa Darter) · E. duryi (Blackside Snubnose Darter) · E. edwini (Brown Damsel) · E. erythrozonum (Meramec Saddled Darter) · E. etheostoma (Scaly Goby) · E. etnieri (Cherry Darter) · E. etowahae (Etowah Darter) · E. euzonum (Arkansas Saddled Darter) · E. euzonum erizonum (Current Saddled Darter) · E. euzonum euzonum (Arkansas Saddled Darter) · E. exile (Yellowbelly) · E. flabellare (Fantail Darter) · E. flabellare flabellare (Fantail Darter) · E. flabellaris (Fantail Darter) · E. flavum (Saffron Darter) · E. fonticola (Fountain Darter) · E. forbesi (Barrens Darter) · E. fragi (Strawberry Darter) · E. fricksia (Savannah Darter) · E. fricksium (Savannah Darter) · E. fusiforme (Swamp Darter) · E. fusiforme barratti (Swamp Darter) · E. fusiforme fusiforme (Swamp Darter) · E. gracile (Slough Darter) · E. grahami (Rio De La Plata Onesided Livebearer) · E. gutselli (Tuckasegee Darter) · E. histrio (Harlequin Darter?134 Names of Fishes) · E. hopkinsi (Christmas Darter) · E. hopkinsi binotatum (Christmas Darter) · E. hopkinsi hopkinsi (Christmas Darter) · E. inscriptum (Turquiose Cichlid) · E. jessiae (Blueside Darter) · E. jordani (Greenbreast Darter) · E. juliae (Yoke Darter) · E. kanawhae (Kanawha Darter) · E. kantuckeense (Highfinned Parrotfish) · E. kennicotti (Stripetail Darter) · E. lachneri (Tombigbee Darter) · E. lawrencei (Headwater Darter) · E. lepidum (Greenstripe Rockfish) · E. longimana (Longfin Darter) · E. longimanum (Longfin Darter) · E. lugoi (Tufa Darter) · E. luteovinctum (Redband Darter) · E. luteovinctumin (Redband Darter) · E. lynceum (Brighteye Darter) · E. macrocephalum (Longhead Darter) · E. maculata (Spotted Darter) · E. maculatum (Spotted Darter) · E. mariae (Pinewoods Darter) · E. meadiae (Bluespar Darter)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 02, 2008:

Identifiers

Last Revised: 7/14/2012